‘The Boys’ Season Four Criticizes American Politics

The Boys season four is getting criticized for going “woke,” but fans of the show should know the series has always been a commentary on modern American sociopolitical culture. Creator Eric Kripke is outspoken about this aspect of the award-winning Amazon Prime series:

“I clearly have a perspective, and I’m not shy about putting that perspective in the show,” he said to The Hollywood Reporter. “Anyone who wants to call the show ‘woke’ or whatever, that’s OK. Go watch something else,” and based on negative Rotten Tomatoes reviews, fans are packing up and doing just that. 

But what about this specific season has turned people off of the widely popular series?

For starters, the season details a public fight between Starlight (Erin Moriarty) and a new character, Firecracker (Valorie Curry), which also happens to be a play on words (Starlight vs. Firecracker). Get it? Firecracker is a far-right caricature; she carries around firearms, sports a bandoleer full of ammunition, and has a podcast called “The Truth Bomb.” To seal the deal, she hosts a convention called “Truth Con,” which immediately reminded me of Donald Trump’s social media app, Truth Social. Firecracker is blindly devoted to Homelander, which Kripke says is inspired by Marjorie Taylor Greene’s relationship with Trump. 

While Firecracker is new to the series, Homelander (Antony Starr) has always had tones of former President Trump. Even Kripke admits that he was inspired by the 2016 election and the idea of a celebrity turned politician. Homelander is an entertainer and power-hungry leader. While his psychopathic personality may garner some laughs, it’s his control that mirrors Trump. Both Homelander and now Firecracker get away with literal crimes because of their fans’s unwavering support. Homelander literally rips a civilian in half while his fans clap and cheer. This is especially poignant considering MAGA supporters’ insistence that the 2020 election was rigged and that Trump’s 2024 criminal trial was faulty. 

Again, the show has always hinted at these similarities, but it took the Tucker Carlson-esque Firecracker to clue in fans that the show might be making fun of them. 

Despite these clear MAGA comparisons, The Boys is not a lightning rod hit aimed at conservative audiences. Rather, the show attempts to highlight the variety of flaws in America’s political system from both sides. Susan Heyward plays Sage, the smartest person on earth, although everyone insists on calling her “the smartest woman on earth.” Kripke finds casting Heyward, an African American woman, comes with interesting social commentary. In an interview, he says, “Here she is, the ability to save all of mankind, and everyone just kind of thinks she’s invisible.”

This season also introduces an LGBTQ+ relationship between Frenchie (Tomer Capone) and Colin (Elliot King). While this storyline might upset certain audiences, The Boys has always prioritized diversity, with Dominique McElligot playing Maeve, a Wonder Woman-type queer character with a girlfriend. The show’s spinoff series, Gen V, also has multiple queer characters at the forefront. And past seasons implied that Frenchie was sexually fluid and possibly in a polyamorous relationship with a man and a woman whom he lived with and did crimes with. 

Overall, The Boys is about people rising up against corrupt superheroes who abuse their power. After the government gives them their powers, the heroes become obsessed with controlling politics and the public. Homelander has never been a hero; he’s killed, stomped on people below him, and even dated a Nazi. Without any redeemable qualities, the only people who applaud this villain are likely those who applaud Trump. 

While some critics believe this season faces pacing and plot issues, many are attempting to review bomb the show for its satirical outlook on American politics. I’ve found season four to be just as engaging, shocking, and gory as the past seasons. If anything, Season Four’s portrayal of characters like Homelander and Firecracker serves as necessary wake-up calls to toxic corners of the show’s audience. 

New episodes of The Boys are streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.

Photo Courtesy of JASPER SAUVAGE/Prime Video